Self-righting roadway marking device

Claim 1

A self-righting, rotatable roadway marking device comprising in combination: a base member having a curved lower ground-engaging surface causing the base member to be readily tippable; a blind bore formed in said base member centrally thereof adapted to releasably and fixedly retain the lower portion of a staff element therein; a balance weight within the base member and in axial alignment with said bore; the center of gravity of said balance weight being located below the center of gravity of said bore and in vertical alignment therewith; an elongated staff element releasably and non-rotatably mounted in said bore; electric battery means and bulb means carried by said staff element and operatively connected to display a lighted signal; flexible means for loosely maintaining the device to a roadway; and a plurality of stiff wind vanes secured fixedly to said staff element and extending radially outwardly therefrom in equidistantly spaced relation thereabout to cause a tipping and rotating movement of the marking device on its curved lower surface in response to wind forces, the center of gravity of the device being located in relation to the curved surface to produce a restoring movement when the device is tipped, causing the device to be self righting, whereby the marking device exhibits both a tipping and a noticeably rotating movement as a result of wind forces or being struck by a vehicle.